Editor's Note: The diary is based on e-mail messages provided by CMF Missionaries while they worked in Gonaives, Haiti in February 2009.

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009
For the past several days we have experienced electrical problems, making it difficult to send e-mail and attributing to the lack of regular updates this past week. Nonetheless, before our group left Saturday morning, we installed 19 trusses the night before. An additional three trusses were put up on Saturday.

The remaining purloins were put on Monday morning before the team began roofing around 11 a.m. Unbelievably, one entire side was finished by 4 p.m.; we called it a day. We started work at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and finished the project by lunch. UNBELIEVEABLE! To put a 4,000-square-feet roof on a structure in one day is remarkable. GOD IS GOOD!

Because the project was finished earlier than anticipated, we had the opportunity to visit a number of churches and to identify additional projects throughout the week. We also got a chance to visit the orphanage we built several years ago.
 
We are scheduled to go to Port-au-Prince Friday at 9 a.m. and to stay at the Wahl's guest house before leaving for the U.S. at noon. If all the airlines are on time, we should be home at 1 a.m. Sunday.

(Editor’s Note: American Airlines was not running exactly on time: The group, which had to take separate flights, did not return home until 3 a.m. Sunday morning.)

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009
The first week was a tough week; however, with prayer and perseverance, we were able to complete installation of all 22 trusses: three on Wednesday, eight on Thursday, nine on Friday, and the final two today. On Monday we are set to square the roof and to begin placing the sheeting on by noon.

Although we were sorry to see the first team depart, we were relieved the second CMF missionary team arrived without incident earlier this evening.

Friday, February 6, 2009
More than half of the trusses have been completed, and we anticipate having all of them built later this evening. Once this phase of the project is complete, we can devote all of our time to installing them before beginning to add the aluminum sheeting. Though we got off to something of a rocky start, challenged by a variety of problems, with God's help, we were able to work through them.

Some members of the team will be rotating out tomorrow, and [Ed] will be taking them to the Port-a-Prince airport where he will pick of the second team who will help complete the project.

Thursday, February 5, 2009
Every one is faring quite well in Haiti even though work is not progressing as quickly as we had hoped. Due to limited resources, a fair amount of spontaneous engineering is needed. We intend to put the trusses up tomorrow if everything goes as planned; the welding portion of the project is scheduled to begin this evening.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Work proceeded more smoothly today: We were able to get four trusses in place, which is quite a challenge given their height and weight. The Lord has provided us with insight and patience, which has enabled us to work more productively. However, we continue to covet every prayer. If it is God's will, we can complete this project.

The weather here in Haiti has been beautiful. It is not unbearably hot; rather, a nice breeze blows most of the day. 


Monday, February 2, 2009
Though a day later than anticipated, we arrived in in Haiti Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1. This morning, and much like previous trips, we began the day very early with prayer and breakfast. At the work site, the welding machine was delivered at 7:30 a.m., (and a day later than anticipated), and it took team members three hours to coerce the machine into working. However, we were able to build four complete trusses before the day's end. Select team members were asked to make a trip to pick up one-by-twelve-inch pieces of lumber to be used to build jigs for the trusses.

The women within our group have done an extraordinary job of cutting and bending the steel bar that is used in truss construction. And, of course, Carol Thatcher ensures we are properly fed each day, fixing a light lunch and a hearty evening meal.

The weather is beautiful, and group members feel very safe here.